Door-latch mechanism



T i 17, 1931. F. D GRUND DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Filed Sept. 17, 1928 a W n Z 6 m M 0 M M 1 6 6 1B a W Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLETCHER D. GRUND, OF WESTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN SWISS COMFANY,

OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO DOOR-LATCH MECHANISM Application filed September 17, 1928. Serial No. 306,331.

- The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a automobile door latch;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation onthe line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation ion the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. i is a sectional view on the line H of Fig. 1; and 1 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing another method of connecting t he remote control link to the latching bolti' The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a door latch having a mounting plate 1 rovided with an upwardly bent front edge ange 2. Slidable on the mounting plate 1 is a latching bolt 3 having a part 4 extending through an opening in the flange 2. The bolt 3 is provided with an extension 5 engageable by a roll-back 6 for retracting the bolt in a well known manner. The roll- 6 is held in place by a cover plate 7,

which is individual to the roll-back, and, therefore, covers but a small part of the mounting or back plate.

The latching bolt 3 is formed with a longitudinally elongate slot 8, into which projects a stop member 9 struck up from the body of the mounting plate 1. For holding the latching bolt 3 in advanced or latching position, a coiled compression spring 10 is positioned within the elongate slot 8, and has one end bearing against the stop member 9 and the opposite end encircles a guide pin 11 projecting into the slot 8 from the bolt 3.

The convenient manner of assembling the spring 10 is apparent, it merely being necessary to insert one end over the guide pin 11, compress the spring slightly and'push the same downwardly against the mounting plate -1. Upon releasing the spring, the opposite end will expand into engagement with the stop member 9. A spring of this type is quite eflicient and is advantageous also because of its cheapness.

In order-to retain the spring 10 in position a keeper 12 fits over and covers the elongate slot 8. The keeper 12, in this instance, is of sheet metal and substantially in the shape of an inverted U. Formed at one end of the keeper is a pair of ears 13, which are adapted to be forced into openings 14 formed on the latching bolt 3, it being understood that the ears 13 are first brought into registration with the openings 14, forced downwardly, and then the keeper moved in a direction toward the portion 2 of the mounting plate so that the ears are positioned on the under side of the latching bolt 3. This prevents outward movement of one end of the keeper. Formed on the opposite end of the keeper is a tongue 14, which is adapted to be snapped into an opening 15 in the bolt 3. The tongue 14: is engaged after the ears 13 are moved into position.

In order to facilitate removal of the latching bolt 3, the mounting plate 1 is formed at a side edge thereof with an elongate slot 16 open at its outer end to permit a headed pin 17 on the latching bolt 3 to be moved into engagement therewith. By this construc-' tion, the bolt is guided in its sliding movement on the mounting plate by the pin 17 cooperating with the slot 16. It will be observed that the slot 16 is directly in line with the opening through which the bolt extension 4: projects, so that the bolt is guided on the mounting plate by two points of contact therewith. This provides an exceedingly simple construction without sacrificing features of strength and durability.

As is usual, the roll-back 6 is provided with a projection 18, which is engaged by a dog 19, and when the parts are in engagement, the roll-back is prevented from turning. The dog 19 is, in this instance, slidable, and is provided with a pair of outwardly bent bolt 3.

tongues 20, which project into an elongate slot 21 formed in the mounting plate 1.

For moving the dog 19 to and from operati e position, a link 22 is provided. This lirk may extend to a remote control arrangement, and isoperable also to retract the bolt 3, the operation being such that the locking dog 19 is tirst retracted and subsequently the bolt. Provided on the end portion of the link 22 is a rivet 2 the haul of which is disposed on the inside of an elongate slot A formed in the extension 3 of the latching A spring 25 is disposed in an opening 26 formed in the lot-king dog 1!). and the head of the rivet '25 bears against the spring so that the parts are prevented from rattling.

From the above. ctmstrnction, it is manitest that by moving the dog If) to the right (Fig. 1) the same is moved into dogging position and eounter-elockwise movement of the rolhback (3 is positively prevented. hen the link 22 is moved to the left in Fig. 1, the dog is first moved away from the rollback ti. 'hen the rivet 23 reaches the eml ot' the slot Ql, further tnovel'uent retracts the latch bolt 3. I

.s shown in Fig. 53. the link 22 may be eletnt'hable from a lat h bolt 3. and is shown formed with oppositely disposed lugs 2Q, which may be inserted through the slot. 24. and given a (platter-turn to position the lugs across the opening. and thereby prevent disengagement of the link. This enables the parts to he readily assembled and disassembled. and is particularly convenient for shipping purposes.

Nun'ierous changes in details of construction. arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters latent is:

1. In a door latch having a mounting plate and sliding latching bolt, means connecting the plate to the bolt, said means including a slot open at one end extending fromone side of the plate toward the other side and a headed pin on said bolt having the shank thereof in said slot thereby to permit convenient assembly and guide the movement of the bolt.

2. door latch comprising a back plate. a latch bolt movable over said back plate. spring means nrging said bolt to latching position. a roll back for retracting said bolt. an abutment carried by and movable with said roll back. a strap longittulinally movable in the direction of movement of said bolt and dispo ed substantially in line with said bolt. said bolt having an apertured portion. and a combined dogging and bolt-retracting device. said device including a single actuating member fixed to and projecting at signed my name to this specification.

FLETCHER D. GRUN D. 

